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DOCUMENTS 


IN  THE  MATTER  OF  AN  APPLICATION 


TO  THE  HONOURABLE  THE 


LEGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW-YORK, 


FOR  A 


Charter 


FOR 


MANHATTAN  COLLEGE. 


NEW- YORK  : 

PRINTED  BY  J.  SEYMOUR. 

1829.  . 


Cr/ 


TO  THE  HONOURABLE  THE 

-EGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW-YORK 

IN  SENATE  AND  ASSEMBLY  CONVENED  J 

THE  PETITION  OF 

David  Hosack,  William  James  Macneven,   Valentine  Mott^ 
'^     John  W.  Francis^  and  John  Griscom^  "^ 

HUMBLY  SHEWETH, 

That  the  before  named  individuals  having  united 
together  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  the  principles 
of  Medicine  by  public  lectures,  did,  in  the  year 
1826,  cause  to  be  erected  in  the  City  of  New- York 
a  building  expressly  adapted  for  such  use,  at  their 
own  private  cost,  and  upon  which  they  have,  up  to 
the  present  time,  expended  the  sum  of  Twenty-five 
Thousand  Dollars. 

That  as  it  is  essential,  in  consequence  of  the 
tenor  of  our  laws,  to  the  existence  of  an  Institution 
of  this  kind,  that  it  should  have  the  power  of  con- 
ferring the  Degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  anS  as 
the  Legislature  of  New- York  was  not  then  in  session, 
and  would  not  be  until  long  after  the  period  for  ob- 
taining a  class  would  have  passed,  a  connection  was 
formed  between  the  undersigned  and  Rutgers  Col- 
lege. 

Under  this  arrangement  the  first  course  of  lectures 
was  delivered  by  the  undersigned  to  a  class  of  one 


hundred  and  thirty  students,  chiefly  citizens  of  New- 
York,  and  also  before  various  individuals,  members 
of  the  medical  profession,  all  of  whom  have  borne 
testimony  to  the  faithfulness  with  which  the  duties 
of  the  undersigned  were  performed,  and  the  excel- 
lence of  the  accommodations  offered  for  the  use  of 
those  engaged  in  medical  studies. 

In  consequence  of  the  act  passed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture in  1827,  against  the  degrees  granted  by  Rutgers 
College,  to  individuals  recommended  for  such  de- 
grees by  the  undersigned,  the  same  reasons  which 
caused  them  to  seek  a  connexion  with  Rutgers  Col- 
lege induced  them  to  apply  for  protection  to  a  re- 
spectable College  within  this  state.  Geneva  College 
acceded  to  the  request,  and  they  fondly  hoped  that 
they  should  now  be  left  to  take  such  standing  as 
might  be  impartially  awarded  to  their  deserts. 

Notwithstanding  the  doubt  and  difficulties  caused 
by  persons  interested  to  oppose  their  efforts,  the  class 
of  medical  students  attending  during  the  session  of 
1827-8,  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight,  princi- 
pally citizens  of  New-York.  There  is  a  still  increased 
number  the  present  term,  amounting  to  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven. 

The  undersigned  have  seen  with  unfeigned  regret, 
that,  in  the  revised  laws,  the  Legislature  passed  an 
act  apparently  designed  to  deprive  them  of  the  pri- 
vilege of  labouring  for  the  public  good  at  their  own 
expense,  and  with  no  other  means  of  success  than 
their  most  strenuous  exertions  to  render  themselves 
useful  and  acceptable  to  the  public.  Convinced  that 
your  Honourable  Body  feel  highly  interested  in  the 
diffusion  of  sound  and  useful  knowledge,  and  satis- 
fied of  your  willingness  to  render  justice  and  protect 


the  rights  of  the  humblest  citizen,  they  venture  to  call 
your  attention  to  a  few  circumstances  having  imme- 
diate bearing  upon  their  case. 

The  principles  of  the  government  under  v^hich  they 
have  the  blessing  to  live,  are  such  as  to  secure  to 
every  citizen  the  privilege  of  exercising  his  talents 
and  industry  in  any  honourable  and  useful  calling  so 
long  as  he  neither  directly  or  indirectly  interferes 
vi^ith  the  rights  of  others.  Experience  has  clearly 
proved  that  the  exercise  of  this  invaluable  privilege 
has  universally  tended  to  elevate  the  character,  and 
augment  the  resources  of  the  country  which  pro- 
tects it. 

The  medical  profession  derives  its  excellence  from 
the  united  labours  and  experience  of  all  those  who 
are  devoted  to  its  cultivation.  Those  who  are  most 
experienced  and  most  learned,  have  it  most  in  their 
power  to  benefit  students.  If  the  right  of  teaching 
be  exclusively  given  to  a  few,  either  by  direct  enact- 
ment, or  by  throwing  disqualifications  upon  others;  if 
those  who  have  expended  their  best  days,  and  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  their  earnings  in  search  of  pro- 
fessional knowledge,  are  to  be  excluded  by  law  from 
competition  and  emulation,  from  aspiring  to  the  ho- 
nours and  rewards  in  the  free  gift  of  the  profession, 
whence  is  the  improvement  and  advancement  of  the 
profession  to  be  expected  ? 

The  instances  occurring  recently  in  neighbouring 
states,  are  immediately  in  point.  When  the  Jefferson 
College  in  Philadelphia  petitioned  for  a  charter,  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  and  its  friends  were  ex- 
ceedingly alarmed,  and  set  forth  various  manifestos, 
showing,  by  very  plausible  arguments,  that  it  would 
be  highly  dangerous  to  the  profession,  and  injurious 


to  the  general  public,  to  grant  the  request  of  the  pe- 
titioners.  But  this  charter  was  granted,  and  the  two 
schools  have  since  flourished  in  the  same  city,  with- 
out^ the  least  injurious  collision — the  places  of  emu- 
lation, emolument,  and  honour,  were  doubled  to  men 
of  talent,  and  the  interests  of  the  citizens,  the  Uni- 
versity, and  the  students  of  medicine,  have  been  ex- 
tensively and  obviously  benefited.  The  University 
of  Pennsylvania  immediately  increased  her  accom- 
modations— appointed  additional  and  able  teachers 
without  adding  to  the  expenses  of  the  students,  and 
in  every  particular  augmented  the  energy  of  her  ad- 
ministration. The  classes  have  annually  increased 
since  the  establishment  of  the  second  school — the 
new  College  has  been  respectably  attended  also,  and 
none  of  the  evils  so  much  deprecated  in  theory  have 
ever  occurred. 

Nearly  the  same  remarks  are  applicable  to  what 
has  taken  place  in  Maryland.  A  new  College  has 
been  established  in  Baltimore,  where  the  flourishing 
University  of  Maryland  is  situate.  But  this  has  not 
led  to  special  or  oppressive  enactments.  The  Uni- 
versity of  Maryland  is  proud  to  rely  on  her  own 
merits  for  support — and  the  new  College  exhibits  an 
equal  willingness  to  rise  or  fall  on  the  same  ground. 

Competition  or  emulation  between  scientific  insti- 
tutions tends  more  to  the  immediate  promotion  of  the 
public  good,  than  rivalry  between  institutions  of  any 
other  character.  Its  immediate  influence  is  to  ren- 
der all  those  engaged  more  industrious  in  seeking 
after  knowledge,  and  more  zealous  to  make  it  ac- 
ceptable to  others.  Every  improvement  on  one  side 
leads  to  a  desire  to  equal  or  excel  on  the  other,  and 


the  results  of  these  mutual  efforts  are  at  once  ren- 
dered productively  useful  to  the  public. 

The  sources  of  wealth  to  teachers  of  medicine, 
and  under  the  government  of  these  states— //ic  only 
legitimate  claim  to  public  favour  and  preference,  are 
the  superiority  of  talent  they  are  able  to  display,  and 
the  paramount  advantages  they  are  able  to  offer  to 
such  as  require  medical  education.     No  better  proof 
of  the  certainty  with  which  such  a  claim  receives  its 
due  return  is  required,  than  in  the  case  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania.     In  that  state  there  are  no 
laws  regulating  the  practice  of  medicine — the  Uni- 
versity confers  a  degree,  which  is  merely  an  honour 
that  involves  no  privilege  at  home  or  abroad.     Yet 
solely  on  her  high  and  well  maintained  reputation — 
exclusively  on  the  individual  merits  of  her  respective 
professors — she  collects  annually  a  large  tribute  of 
wealth  from  all  the  states  in  the  union — but,  still  bet- 
ter, she  sheds  over  the  vast  region  of  our  country  an 
increasing  halo  of  glory,  by  the  multitudes  of  accom- 
plished pupils  she  annually  sends  forth. 

They  might  now  venture  to  state  that  experience 
has  already  shown,  that  two  schools  in  the  City  of 
New-York  are  both  useful  and  necessary.  A  similar 
spirit  of  emulation  to  that  manifested  elsewhere  has 
been  already  exhibited — efforts  to  excel  are  made 
on  each  side,  and  medical  students,  having  it  in  their 
power  to  compare  teachers  of  the  same  branches 
with  each  other,  learn  how  to  appreciate  the  best, 
and  where  to  look  for  the  greatest  advantages.  The 
utmost  harmony  has  prevailed  between  professors 
and  students,  the  classes  have  exhibited  their  satis- 
faction at  the  increase  of  opportunities,  and  the  pro- 
fession have  expressed  their  approbation  of  the  re- 


suits  of  the  competition.  The  aggregate  number  of 
medical  students  collected  in  the  City  of  New- York, 
is  greater  this  time  than  on  any  former  session. 

Your  Honourable  Body  has  heretofore  been  ad- 
dressed by  those  who  have  stated  that  but  one  or 
two  schools  of  medicine  were  required  in  this  state. 
This  view,  entirely  erroneous,  derives  its  origin  from 
narrow  and  selfish  policy ;  as  if  a  medical  school  of 
proper  celebrity  was  expected  to  derive  its  support 
from  a  single  state.     But  the  schools  of  London,  Pa- 
ris, Edinburgh,  Berlin,  and  Philadelphia,  are  centres 
of  afiiux  to  all  the  rest  of  the  civilized  world  :  and  in 
proportion  to  the  degree  of  talent  and  excellence 
displayed  will  be  the  honour  and  remuneration,  though 
there  were  five  hundred  instead  of  two  schools. — 
The  sole  motive  of  those  who  oppose  the  free  exer- 
cise of  talent,  and  who  ask  for  exclusive  privilege,  is 
'  to  prevent  the  lessening  of  profits  by  the  decline  in 
price  which  must  result  from  competition.     But  who 
is  it  that  is  to  fear  such  reduction  }     Certainly  not 
those  who  feel  persuaded  that  the  attractions  they 
have  to  offer  will,  by  the  increase  of  numbers,  com- 
pensate for  the  reduction  of  individual  fees.     Is  it 
the  representatives  of  a  republican  people  who  are 
to  grant  monopolies,  as  if  the  diffusion  of  useful 
knowledge  would  be  too  general  ?     Is  it  in  America 
that  the  public  authorities  shall  say,  that  the  exer- 
tions of  A,  B,  C,  or  D,  shall  be  forbidden,  in  order 
that  E,  F,  and  G  may  have  larger  fees,  and  be  saved 
from  the  labour  of  competition  with  scientific  rivals? 
Is  it  in  New-York,  where  the  death-blow  was  given 
to  one  of  the  most  plausible  monopolie&  that  ever 
existed,  that  the  light  of  science  is  to  be  restricted 
to  ^w;o institutions? — Reduced  to  its  actual  condition, 


such  is  the  state  of  this  case.  Almost  all  medical 
institutions  (except  those  of  New-York,  at  present) 
depend  for  their  success  upon  the  merits  of  the 
teachers  belonging  to  them.  If  this  state  -passes 
laws  for  the  purpose  of  withholding  others  from 
teaching,  the  effect  is  to  deprive  students,  those  in- 
terested, from  seeking  to  act  for  their  own  greatest 
good,  by  choosing  the  institution  in  which  they  may 
be  best  served,  and  is  conferring  a  monopoly  as  un- 
just and  as  hateful,  as  it  would  be  for  this  state  to  de- 
clare where  we  should  purchase  our  goods — where 
we  should  send  our  children  to  school — what  church 
we  should  go  to,  or  any  other  evil  of  similar  cha- 
racter. 

What  is  it  that  the  undersigned  ask  of  your  Ho- 
nourable Body.'^  It  is  to  be  freed  from  oppression; 
it  is  to  be  allowed  the  exercise  of  their  talents  to 
serve  the  public,  if  that  public  be  willing  to  employ 
them.  They  ask  most  respectfully  for  themselves 
what  is  the  unalienable  right  of  all,  and  of  which 
they  have  not  the  least  wish  to  prevent  all  others 
from  being  possessed. 

They  solicit  your  Honourable  Body  to  give  them  a 
Charter  which  will  place  them  in  a  condition  in  which 
they  cannot  have  success  unless  they  have  merit. 

Finally,they  most  respectfully  entreat  your  Honour- 
able Body  to  regard  this  their  petition  with  a  single 
view  to  the  public  good. — As  the  law  intends  no 
more  than  that  the  public  shall  be  protected  from 
injury,  they  solicit  the  Legislature,  in  its  wisdom,  to 
make  qualification  the  sole  test  of  the  fitness  to  prac- 
tise,— instead  of  the  question,  to  what  individuals  or 
in  what  institutions  candidates  have  paid  their  fees. 

Your  petitioners  beg  leave  to  be  distinctly  under- 


10 

stood  as  asking  no  money  from  the  Legislature,  and 
no  exclusive  privilege,  but  simply  requesting  your 
Honourable  Body  to  constitute  them,  their  associ- 
ates and  successors,  a  body  corporate,  by  the  name 
of  Manhattan  College^  v^^ith  powder  of  conferring  de- 
grees of  equal  validity  with  those  of  any  other  Me- 
dical College  in  the  state,  or  elsewhere,  of  filling 
vacancies,  making  their  own  by-laws,  of  holding  real 
and  personal  estate  to  the  value  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  and  of  making  such  other  regula- 
tions as  may  be  found  requisite  for  the  ends  of  their 
association. 

And  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound,  will  ever 
pray. 

DAVID  HOSACK,  M.D. 

WILLIAM  J.  MACNEVEN,  M.D. 

VALENTINE  MOTT,  M.D. 

JOHN  W.  FRANCIS,  M.D. 

JOHN  GRISCOM,  LL.  D. 

NEw-YoRK,Jan.  8,  1829. 


(No.  1.) 


To  THE  Honourable  MARTIN  VAN  BEUREN 

GOVERNOR  OF  THE  STATE  OF  KEW-YORK. 


The  undersigned,  Professors  of  the  Rutgers  Me- 
dical Faculty  of  Geneva  College,  New-York,  are 
desirous  of  making  known  to  your  Excellency  the 
grounds  upon  which  they  think  proper  to  apply  to 
the  Honourable  the  Legislature  for  an  independent 
Charter,  with  full  and  ample  powers  to  confer  Medi- 
cal degrees  with  as  extensive  rights  and  privileges 
as  those  conferred  by  similar  institutions  in  this  state 
or  elsewhere. 

Four  of  your  petitioners,  to  wit,  David  Hosack^ 
William  James  Macneven,  Valentine  Mott,  and  John 
W.  Francis,  have  been  for  many  years  engaged  in 
the  duties  of  medical  education  under  the  sanction 
of  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  state.  A  fifth, 
to  wit,  John  Griscom,  has  been  long  known  as  a  public 
teacher  of  chemical  science,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
the  responsible  duties  of  instruction  in  the  New- York 
High  School  as  Principal  thereof,  with  what  success 
let  the  several  reports  drawn  up  by  many  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  respectable  of  that  institution  testify. 
A  sixth  professor,  Dr.  George  Bushe  from  London, 
has  been  recently  added  to  our  list,  whose  skill  and 
ability  are  attested  bv  the  first  names  in  British  sci= 


12 

ence,  to  wit,  William  Lawrence,  Benjamin  Travers, 
Granville  Sharp  Pattison,  and  Charles  Bell,  and 
w^hose  real  merits  have  greatly  exceeded  even  the 
highest  anticipations  cherished  by  his  coadjutors. 

Under  what  circumstances  the  four  professors  with- 
drew from  their  connection  with  a  former  institution, 
it  is  unnecessary  here  to  mention.  Suffice  it  to  say, 
that  finding  themselves  unable  to  perform  the  duties 
assigned  them  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  themselves, 
they  ventured  on  the  bold  expedient  of  erecting  at 
their  own  expense  an  edifice  exceeded  by  none  in 
the  country  in  convenience;  and  the  success  of  their 
attempt  is  evinced  in  the  numbers  who  attend  their 
courses  of  instruction  from  all  parts  of  the  Union, 
and  in  the  high  character  which  the  students  who 
have  received  medical  honours  at  their  hands  have 
sustained  in  the  public  estimation.  Believing,  how^- 
ever,  that  the  undersigned  will  be  enabled  to  pursue 
their  arduous  duties  w^ith  more  benefit  to  the  public 
and  to  themselves  by  an  independent  Charter,  they 
have  made  this  application,  satisfied  that  it  must  be 
as  manifest  to  the  public  authorities,  as  it  is  to  all 
intelligent  citizens,  that  the  right  of  instruction  should 
not  be  the  subject  of  monopoly ;  that  the  field  of 
science  and  literature  should  be  open  to  all.  They 
ask  no  pecuniary  grant,  but  merely  that  they  may  be 
permitted  to  exercise  their  talents  for  their  own  and 
the  public  benefit,  on  an  equal  footing  wdth  others, 
inviting  a  friendly  emulation,  satisfied  with  that  por- 
tion of  patronage  which  an  enlightened  public  may 
bestow. 

The  City  of  New-York  is  beyond  all  contradiction 
the  best  theatre  in  this  country  for  medical  educa- 
tion.   With  a  most  numerous  and  rapidly  augment- 


13 

ing  population,  embracing  the  climate  of  almost 
everj  country,  her  inhabitants  are  exposed  to  every 
disease  to  which  the  human  frame  is  subjected.  Her 
hospital  among  the  best  endowed  and  best  accom- 
modated institutions  of  the  kind,  receives  patients 
from  every  region,  and  exhibits,  for  its  extent,  the 
greatest  variety  of  diseases.  Nothing  but  adverse 
circumstances  can  account  for  the  mortifying  fact, 
that  New- York  has  failed  to  obtain  that  rank  in  me- 
dical reputation  which  she  holds  in  wealth  and  com- 
merce. By  means  of  her  free  and  multifarious  inter- 
course with  every  nation,  her  advantages  of  deriving 
the  mo^t  recent  and  ample  information  from  every 
quarter,  are  manifest  and  decisive.  How  important 
then,  that  she  should  avail  herself  of  these  advan- 
tages. Her  resources,  powerful  and  numerous  as 
they  are,  would  be  beneficially  augmented  by  the 
expenditures  among  us  of  students  from  every  part 
of  our  country  ;  and  the  seeds  of  science  be  enabled 
to  take  a  deep  and  lasting  root,  and  our  citizens  be- 
come distinguished  in  the  arts  which  adorn,  as  in  the 
pursuits  which  enrich  social  intercourse. 

It  is  believed  that  two  medical  schools  are  called 
for,  both  by  the  state  and  interests  of  the  profession 
among  us.  Paris  and  London  are  now  the  best 
schools  of  medicine  in  the  world.  No  inconsiderable 
income  is  derived  to  those  opulent  cities  from  their 
institutions  for  the  promotion  of  education.  In  the 
former  city,  the  powerful  hand  of  government  has 
long  extended  its  aid ;  and  in  the  latter,  its  enter- 
prising citizens  are  becoming  alive  to  the  interests 
and  embellishments  which  may  be  derived  from  this 
source.  1  wo  most  extensive  institutions  are  now 
erecting  with  a  view  to  furnish  instruction  to  the  in- 


habitants  of  that  illustrious  metropolis,  accommo- 
dated to  the  existing  state  of  science  and  the  exi- 
gencies of  its  enlightened  population.  These  insti- 
tutions far  from  interfering  with  each  other,  are  found 
on  the  contrary,  to  aid  and  assist,  by  friendly  ^emu- 
lation.  In  each  of  our  sister  cities,  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore,  two  distinct  institutions  for  imparting 
medical  science  exist,  vested  with  chartered  rights 
and  ample  powers  by  their  respective  Legislatures  ; 
and  it  is  believed  that  the  City  of  New- York  is  suffi- 
ciently extensive  to  admit  of  similar  advantages. 
One  overgrown  institution,  however  it  may  contribute 
to  the  emoluments  of  the  professors,  would  never  be 
tolerated  by  the  other  members  of  the  profession,  but 
by  distinct  schools  every  practitioner  would  be  ena- 
bled to  enlist  his  force  and  his  interest  in  that  school 
which  he  might  prefer,  and  the  student  be  permitted 
to  avail  himself  of  that  course  of  instruction  which 
he  might  deem  most  advantageous. 

An  interesting  fact  is  presented  to  your  Excel- 
lency's consideration  by  the  history  of  the  two  pre- 
ceding years.  A  considerably  greater  number  of 
students  have  attended  medical  lectures  in  the  City 
of  New- York,  during  those  two  years,  than  at  any 
previous  period  ;  and  at  the  present  session,  there  is 
a  still  greater  number  of  attending  students,  while  it 
is  well  known,  that  many  have  been  deterred  from 
attendance  on  the  lectures  dehvered  by  the  under- 
signed from  undue  mistrust  in  the  honours  conferred 
by  this  institution,  and  from  idle  threats  and  rumours. 
Others  again  have  doubtless  preferred  pursuing  their 
education  at  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere,  from  the 
unsettled  state  of  our  own  schools,  or  from  improper 
inducements  held  out  but  not  fulfilled. 


15 

It  is  the  object  of  the  undersigned  to  elevate  the 
medical  profession  by  such  regulations  as  may  en- 
hance the  qualifications  of  the  student,  without  inter- 
fering with  the  vested  rights  of  any  portion  of  our 
fellow-citizens.     The  time  has  arrived  when  no  per- 
son should  be  permitted  to  take  charge  of  the  life  of 
his   fellow-beings,  without  a  regular   and  qualified 
education.     The  profession  is  sufficiently  numerous, 
and  our  population  sufficiently  enlightened,  to  require 
from  the  future  practitioner  evidences  of  capacity  to 
undertake  the  highly  responsible  duties  which  he 
assumes.     The  former  condition  of  our  population, 
scattered  and  widely  dispersed,  may  have  excused 
the  laxity  of  regulation  which  has  prevailed ;  but  as 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  wise  legislator  to  adapt  regula- 
tions to  existing  exigences,  it  is  trusted  that  the  en- 
lightened views  of  our  citizens  will  not  be  repelled 
by  the  hand  of  power,  but  receive  that  consideration 
which   the  importance   of   the   subject  merits.     In 
France,  England,  the  German  States,  and  in  most  of 
the  enlightened  nations  of  Europe,  no  person  is  per- 
mitted  to  practise  the  profession,  without  several 
years  attendance  on  collegiate  instruction,  and  the 
facilities  of  practical  knowledge  affi)rded  by  their 
extensive  hospitals  :    The  dignity  and  ability  of  the 
medical  practitioner  correspond  with  the    requisi- 
tions ordained  by  the  law. 

The  signatures  of  more  than  one  hundred  of  the 
most  intelligent  and  respectable  practitioners  of  the 
City  of  New-York,  attest  their  sense  of  the  propriety 
and  expediency  of  this  application,  which  might  be 
further  sustained  by  the  concurrent  approbation  of 
thousands  of  the  best  informed  of  our  population, 
did  time  permit  the  appeal. 


10 


The  accompanying  documents  will  still  further  ex- 
hibit the  views  of  the  undersigned  :  and  may  they  be 
permitted  to  hope  that  your  Excellency  will  see  in 
the  favour  solicited,  a  measure  subservient  to  the 
great  interests  of  the  state,  and  add  the  high  sanc- 
tion of  your  name,  influence,  and  co-operation  in 
behalf  of  the  present  application  for  an  independent 
charter. 

The  undersigned  have  the  honour  to  subscribe 
themselves  most  respectfully, 

DAVID  HOSACK,  M.  D. 

Professor  of  the  Institutes  and  Practice  of  Physic 
and  Clinical  Medicine. 

WILLIAM  J.  MACNEVEN,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Therapeutics  and  Materia  Medica. 

VALENTINE  MOTT,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Surgery. 

JOHN  W  FRANCIS,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Forensic  Medicine. 

JOHN  GRISCOM,  LL.D. 

Professor  of  Chemistry. 

New-York,  Jan.  1829. 


rNo.2.)  a^Ct,  ^c 

MEMORIAL 

Of  upwards  of  one  hundred  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of 
the  City  of  New-York,  praying  for  the  incorporation  of 
Manhattan  College. 


TO  THE  HONOURABLE  THE 

LEGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW-YORK, 

IN  SENATE  AND  ASSEMBLY  CONVENED. 
IT  IS  RESPECTFULLY  REPRESENTED : 

That  the  undersigned  Physicians  and  Surgeons, 
highly  approving  of  the  erection  of  at  least  a  second 
College  for  teaching  Medicine  and  Surgery  in  New- 
York,  as  a  measure  that  would  greatly  redound  to  the 
increase  of  exertion  and  the  desire  of  excelling  among 
teachers,  and  the  reduction  of  expense  to  students, 
do  respectfully,  but  most  earnestly  recommend  to 
your  Honourable  Body  to  grant  the  prayer  of  the 
petition  for  chartering  Manhattan  College,  with  like 
powers  and  privileges  as  are  in  any  wise  granted  or 
appertaining  to  any  other  Medical  College  in  this 
state.     And  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray. 

J^eiv-York,  February  2d,  1828, 


John  Neilson,  M.D.-^  "" 
..Felix  Pascalis,  M.D. 

Samuel  I.  Kuypers,  M.D. 

W.  W.  Buchannan,  M.D. 

Fayette  Cooper,  M.D. 
J.  S.  W.  Parkin, 


Lewis  Belden, 

John  Davis, 

WilHam  Powers,  M.D. 

Richard  Esselstyn,  M.D. 

J.  A.  Taylor,  M.D. 

Theophilus  Nelson,. 


18 


Edward  C.  Cooper,  M.D. 

William  Smith, 

John  W.  Withers, 

Richard  L.  Walker,  M.D. 

Peter  Shannon, 

John  M.  Bernhisel,  M.D. 

Theo.  Wolf,  M.D. 

James  M.  Pendleton,  M.D. 

A.  Weight, 

R.  E.  Dorsey,  M.D. 

B.  B.  Edwards, 
James  Anderson,  M.D. 
L.  Proudfoot,  M.D. 

[enry  M.  Francis,  M.D. 
J.  C.  Tessier,  M.D. 
F.  Vanderburgh,  M.D. 
John  Frederick  Sickels, 
Robert  Greenhow,  M.D. 
Ph.  Edward  Milledoler,  M.D. 
A.  E.  Hosack,  M.D. 
J.  E.  DeKay,  M.D. 
Isaac  BrinckerhofF,  M.D. 
Thomas  Pitts, 
W.  T.  W.  Ireland,  M.D. 
W.  Seaman,  M.D.     ^^ 
--Valentine  Mott,  M.D. 
Mark  Stephenson,  M.D. 
Samuel  L.  Mitchill,  M.D. 
H.  M'Lean,  M  D. 

C.  Da  Ponte,  M.D.-"^ 
R.  H.  Maclay,  M.D. 
Henry  E.  Griffith,  M.D. 
James  H.  Hart,  M.D. 
William  H.  Boyd,  M.D. 
Wright  Post,  M.D. 
Robert  French,  M.D. 
Wm.  A.  Hunter,  M.D. 
Thomas  Boyd,  M.D. 
Peter  Forrester,  M.D. 
William  Jas.  Macneven,  M.D. 
Luke  Barker,  M.D. 

Peter  Pratt,  M.D. 
Abraham  T.  Hunter,  M.D. 
David  Tomlinson, 
Andrew  Anderson,  M.D. 
l-ohn  W.  Francis,  M.D. 
John  L.  Suckley,  M.D. 


A.  D.  Wilson,  M.D.  ^ 

N.  S.  Jarvis,  M.D.    ^--^ 
David  Hosack,  M.D. 
Walter  C.  Palmer,  M.D. 
Richard  Tuite,  M.D. 
C.  B.  Zabriskie,  M.D. 
Stephen  Brown,  M.D. 
Gerardus  A.  Cooper,  M.D. 
John  M.  Glover,  M.D. 
Benjamin  Kissam,  M.D. 
John  F.  Gray,  M.D. 
P.  D.  Vroom,  M.D. 
John  F.  Ellis,  M.D. 
G.  Bancker,  M.D. 
Hampton  Dunham, 
J[<5hn  Neilson,  jr.  M.D. 
James  H.  Henry,  M.DT" " 
Benjamin  Bailey,  M.D. 
Samuel  Throckmorton,  M.D. 
Charles  Cleve,  M.D. 
Archibald  B.  Simpson,  M.D. 
W.  J.  Bailey, 
Hosea  Edwards,  M.D. 
Ebenezer  Storer,  jun.  M.D. 
J.  T.  Harrison, 
Charles  A.  Lee,  M.D. 

P.  Dykers,  M.D. 

Cornehus  Roosa, 
i  A.  G.  Hull,  M.D. 
Jer.  Van  Rensselaer,  M.D. 

John  T.  Ferguson,  M.D. 

J.  Hanson,  M.D. 

John  D.  Godman,  M.D. 

G.  Van  Doren, 

P.  Van  Arsdale, 

R.  Hogan,  M.D. 

Garrit  Terhune,  M.D. 

Henry  Mo  it, 

Jotham  W.  Post,  M.D. 

Francis  E.  Berger,  M.D. 

Richard  Pennell,  M.D. 

Henry  A.  Riley,  M.D. 

John  Stearns,  M.D. 

Alexander  F.  Vache,  M.D. 

Samuel  Tredwell,  M.D. 

Samuel  Burrowe,  M.D. 


(  No.  3. 


TO  THE  HOAOUKABLE  THE 

LEGISLATURE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW-YORK, 

IN  SENATE  AND  ASSEMBLY  CONVENED. 


Your  Petitioners,  Students  of  Medicine  and  Sur* 
gerj  in  the  Rutgers  Medical  Faculty,  Geneva  Col- 
lege, beg  leave  most  respectfully  to  represent :  That 
having  assembled  from  various  parts  of  the  union, 
at  considerable  expense,  for  the  purpose  of  availing 
themselves  of  the  many  facilities  which  the  City  of 
New-York  presents  for  the  acquisition  of  medical 
education,  they  feel  themselves  amply  remunerated 
for  the  sacrifice  by  the  advancement  they  are  ena- 
bled to  make,  in  that  most  useful  and  important  sci- 
ence to  which  they  intend  to  devote  the  labours  of 
their  lives.  They  beg  leave  to  lay  before  your  Ho- 
nourable Body,  the  reasons  w^hich  induce  them  to 
unite  in  the  application  for  an  independent  Charter 
by  the  professors,  with  that  modesty  which  becomes 
their  years,  and  that  diffidence  which  is  appropriate 
to  their  inexperience.  The  confidence  of  their  fel- 
low-citizens in  the  abilities  of  the  professors,  is  ma- 
nifested in  their  wide  and  responsible  practice. 
Theirs  is  not  the  knowledge  acquired  from  books 


20 

alone,  and  which  are  equally  open  to  all;  but  theirs 
is  the  living  science  acquired  at  the  bed-side  of  the 
sick.  All  are  in  the  manhood  of  life,  both  in  body 
and  in  mind.  No  one  labours  under  the  imbecility  of 
youth,  or  the  infirmity  of  years.  All  are  administer- 
ing to  their  fellow-citizens  the  fruits  of  their  ample 
experience,  desirous  only  that  they  may  instruct  the 
rising  youth  of  the  country  in  those  lessons  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge  which  it  has  cost  them  the  labours 
of  their  lives  to  acquire. 

Moreover,  these  gentlemen  are  happily  known  to 
our  countrymen  at  large  by  their  skill  in  their  profes- 
sion, and  by  other  undeniable  evidences.  When 
under  your  more  immediate  direction,  your  good 
sense  and  sagacity  appreciated  their  merits  and  saw 
the  institution  flourishing  in  their  hands :  but  since 
that  period,  they  have  added  to  their  number  a  gen- 
tleman from  Europe,  whose  attainments  in  his  depart- 
ment bid  fair  to  exceed  all  that  has  before  been  done 
among  us.  For  more  than  fourteen  years  resident 
among  the  splendid  hospitals  of  Dublin,  London, 
Edinburgh,  and  Paris,  he  has  been  in  possession  of 
all  the  advantages  which  Europe  can  furnish  to  the 
anatomist,  and  has  fully  availed  himself  of  them. 
But  it  is  due  to  that  gentleman  to  state,  that  nature 
has  largely  endowed  him  with  her  choicest  gifts,  and 
that  his  eloquent  lips  enable  him  to  impart  to  his  au- 
ditors his  rich  and  ample  stores  of  knowledge.  He 
has  left  the  land  of  his  fathers  to  promote  and  to  ex- 
tend the  sciences  among  us ;  and  if  the  Institution  is 
permitted  to  act  with  the  approbation  of  the  state 
authorities,  the  noble  science  of  anatomy,  and  the 
kindred  branches  of  medicine,  will  be  enabled  to  take 
deep  and  lasting  root  among  us. 


21 

It  deserves  to  be  noted  in  favour  of  this  applica» 
tion  to  your  Honourable  Body,  that  the  professors 
of  this  College,  when  connected  vrith  another  insti- 
tution which  thej  raised  from  the  must  humble  be- 
ginnings to  a  commanding  eminence  of  usefulness, 
never  prostituted  the  honours  of  the  profession  on 
the  unworthy.  A  diploma  under  their  hands  was  not 
merely  a  title  to  practice,  but  a  passport  to  the 
highest  stations  in  the  army  and  navy  of  our  country. 
We  have  indubitable  authority  for  the  fact,  that  no 
graduate  from  the  New- York  Medical  School,  while 
they  were  its  teachers,  was  ever  found  incompetent 
when  put  to  the  trial. 

Numerous  and  important  are  the  facilities  of  me- 
dical education  in  the  City  of  New- York.  Its  noble 
Hospital,  in  which  are  exhibited  almost  every  disease 
which  is  described  in  the  able  lectures  of  the 
teacher  of  the  practice  of  physic,  and  in  which 
have  been  performed  most  of  the  great  opera- 
tions in  surgery,  by  the  eminent  professor  of  that 
branch;  its  numerous  infirmaries  for  the  allevi- 
ation of  pain  and  the  correction  of  deformity,  are 
among  the  charities  which  ennoble  this  metropo- 
lis, and  render  it  the  best  theatre  of  medical  sci- 
ence. All  these  charities  have,  at  times,  received 
the  countenance  and  bounty  of  the  pubhc;  and  shall 
their  application  to  the  advancement  of  the  profes- 
sion, the  only  remuneration  which  the  public  can 
receive,  except  the  gratification  of  the  benevolent 
feelings,  be  refused  to  an  institution  which  must  ever 
refer  to  the  cases  there  exhibited  for  the  illustration 
of  the  lessons  of  its  teachers  ?  The  conveniences 
and  accommodations  of  the  edifice  in  which  the  lec- 
tures are  delivered,  are  acknowledged  by  all  to  be 


22 

greater  than  those  of  any  medical  college  in  the 
country.  Its  contiguity  to  the  New- York  Hospital, 
marks  the  good  sense  and  judgment  of  its  founders. 
Thrice  has  it  been  honoured  by  a  visitation  by  the 
members  of  your  Honourable  Body,  representatives 
of  the  City  of  New-York,  and  an  unanimous  opinion 
been  pronounced  in  its  favour.  The  numerous 
libraries  of  this  capital  are,  besides,  accessible  on 
the  most  moderate  compensation.  Its  open  inter- 
course with  every  part  of  the  globe,  enables  it  to 
receive  the  latest  intelligence  in  science  and  litera- 
ture, and  confers  on  it  advantages  which  no  other 
city  in  the  union  enjoys.  Nor  is  it  a  circumstance  to 
be  omitted,  that  we  are  here  enabled  to  see  the  ac- 
cumulation of  wealth,  the  varieties  of  manner  and 
customs  which  this  parti-coloured  metropolis  exhibits 
of  every  nation  and  country  on  the  earth. 

Satisfied  that  the  public  opinion  coincides  with 
their  own,  and  recommended  to  the  faculty  of  this 
school  by  those  whose  means  of  judging  are  ample, 
and  whose  minds  are  uncommitted  and  impartial, 
they  wish  only  to  declare,  that  they  have  not  been 
disappointed  in  the  high  character  of  the  institution, 
and  beg  permission  to  make  known  their  wish  that 
its  means  of  usefulness  may  be  continued,  both  to 
them  and  their  successors.  But  ever  since  their 
connection  with  the  institution,  various  rumours  of 
the  invalidity  of  the  diplomas  granted  by  its  faculty, 
have  operated  on  their  fears,  and  have  deterred  many 
from  enjoying  its  privileges  whose  unbiassed  judg- 
ment would  have  determined  in  its  favour.  As  guar- 
dians of  the  public  weal,  they  look  up  to  you  for  a 
remedy  for  these  evils,  and  request  that  they  may  be 
permitted  to  prefer  that  course  of  instruction  and 


26 

those  instructors  who  exhibit  the  strongest  titles  to 
their  confidence. 

So  far,  we  trust,  we  have  proved  ourselves  not  un- 
worthy of  the  advantages  we  enjoy.  No  instance  of 
indecorum  or  impropriety  has  yet  occurred  within 
our  walls.  We  are  only  anxious  that  when  we  shall 
have  completed  our  studies  and  return  to  our  homes, 
the  diplomas  which  we  have  received  as  the  evidence 
of  our  laborious  exertion,  may  not  be  discredited  by 
those  to  whom  our  fathers  have  consigned  the  wel- 
fare of  the  state.  We  too,  in  our  turn,  expect  to  take 
charge  of  the  lives  and  health  of  our  fellow-beings. 
Do  not,  we  beseech  you,  nip  these  prospects  in  the 
bud.  The  hard  earnings  of  our  parents  have  been 
deeply  taxed  to  enable  us  thus  far  to  prosecute  our 
studies.  Do  not  attempt  to  lessen  in  our  esteem 
those  bright  examples  in  the  profession  whom  it  shall 
be  the  pride  of  our  after  lives  successfully  to  emu- 
late. Many  of  you  as  representatives  of  the  state, 
come  from  parts  of  the  country  where  the  unskilful 
and  uneducated  reap  no  inconsiderable  rewards  ; 
some  of  you  may  have  suffered  from  your  mistaken 
confidence  in  their  capacity.  Give  us,  who  at  least 
have  done  all  we  could  to  entitle  ourselves  to  public 
favour,  an  equal  chance  with  them,  and  we  do  not 
fear  that  the  act  of  your  Honourable  Body,  which 
shall  grant  a  charter  to  the  distinguished  teachers 
who  have  submitted  their  pretensions  to  your  wis- 
dom, will  be  hailed  by  your  constituents  as  the  evi- 
dence of  your  sagacious  discernment  of  their  inte- 
ests,  and  your  watchful  guardianship  of  their  welfare. 
We  are  about  to  enter  on  the  career  of  active  life. 
Under  Providence,  we  trust  that  at  the  great  day  of 
account  we  shall  be  enabled  to  say,  that  in  return  for 


24 

the  bounties  of  his  goodness,  we  exercised  the  hum- 
ble measure  of  our  talents  in  protecting  the  lives  of 
our  fellow-mortals  from  the  infirmities  of  their  nature, 
alleviated  the  bed  of  sickness  and  sorrow,  and  by 
the  best  services  we  could  render  to  helpless  and 
afflicted  humanity,  approved  ourselves  acceptable 
in  his  sight. 

CHAIRMAN, 

Rob.  W.  Wells,      Hunterdon,       New  Jersey. 

SECRETARY, 

Rob.  S.  GiBBS,  St.  Johns,         Florida. 


COMMITTEE. 

Horace  Beall,  Washington, 

James  Oliver,  Ulster, 

James  F.  Leach,  Johnson, 

Samuel  H.Pennington,  Essex, 
Benjamin  W.  Sanders,  Onslow, 

OTHER  STUDENTS  OF  THE  CLASS. 


Thomas  Ward,  Jun. 
Hardy  Holmes, 
David  Springsteed, 
S.  Wilson  Kellogg, 
William  A.  Clarke, 
John  William  Schmidt, 
Richard  Smith, 
C.  D.  Brayton, 
James  Barry, 
George  W.  Cook, 
dexander  Henry, 
William  A.  Berry, 
Frederick  Giraud, 
Andrew  A.  Sandham, 
John  Dunham, 
Gideon  N.  Searing, 
Jared  B.  Atwood, 
Alden  J.  Bennett, 


Essex, 

Sampson, 

Albany, 

Fairfield, 

Kings, 

Charleston, 

New-York, 

St.  Lawrence, 

New-York, 

Columbia, 

Roscommon, 

New  Hanover, 

New-York, 

New-York, 

New-York, 

Queens, 

Schoharie,  " 

Delaware. 


D.  C. 

New-York. 
North  Carolina.. 
New  Jersey. 
North  Carolina. 


New  Jersey. 

North  Carolina. 

New-York. 

Connecticut. 

New-York. 

South  Carolina. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

Ireland. 

North  Carolina. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

New-York. 

New-York. 


25 


Robert  S.  Marshall, 
Henry  Vanderveer, 
Henry  Christie, 
Charles  H.  Jessup, 
John  S.  GatUn, 
Thomas  G.  Swain, 
^William  Channing, 
Obadiah  Crosby, 
Mason  C.  Kellogg, 
James  Quackenbush, 
Philip  P.  Ruckel, 
John  O.  Shipman, 
Robert  Leggett, 
Peter  Skillman, 
Horace  Mosher, 
Nelson  Stryker, 
Samuel  Russell, 
John  W.  Ansley, 
s-Asa  Fitch,  jun. 
George  F.  Horton, 
Reoloff  H.  Van  Dike, 
James  Fraser, 
AmosG.  Hull,  jun. 
N.  Delavan  Stebbins, 
Edward  V.  Price, 
James  B.  Samo, 
Thomas  Ackerman, 
Thomas  S.  Barrett, 
WilHam  B.  M'Cullough, 
Benjamin  Ober, 
Jacob  D.  Woodruff, 
Thomas  E.  Ware, 
James  Martin, 
Minturn  Post, 
Alexander  Y.  Nicoll, 
William  Parkinson, 
J.  M,  Smith, 
Henry  F,  Welling, 


Delaware,  New-York. 

Mi     lesex.  New  Jersey. 

New-York,  New-York. 

Orange,  New-York. 

Le  Noir,  North  Carolina. 

New-York,  New-York. 

New-York,  New-York. 

Saratoga,  New-York. 

Ashtabula,  Ohio. 

New-York,  New- York. 

New-York,  New- York. 

Onondaga,  New- York. 

Albany,  New-York. 

Hunterdon,  New  Jersey. 

Orange,  New- York. 

Somerset,  New  Jersey. 

Rensselaer,  New-York. 

New- York,  New- York. 

Washington,  New -York. 

Bradford,  Pennsylvania. 

Somerset,  New  Jersey. 

St.  Thomas,  West  Indies. 
New  Hanover,  New-York. 

Yates,  New-York. 

Dutchess,  New- York. 

New-York,  New-York. 

Bergen,  New  Jersey. 

Rensselaer,  New-York. 

Warren,  New  Jersey. 

M-rrimac,  N.  Hampshire. 

Morris,  New  Jersey. 

Salem,  New  Jersey. 

Warren,  New  Jersey. 

New- York,  New- York. 

Middlesex,  New  Jersey. 

Virginia. 

Dutchess,  New-York. 

New- York,  New- York. 
4 


26 


Leonard  Marsh, 
Langhton  Osborn, 
James  M.  Quin, 
Richard  W.  Stevenson, 
Henry  D.  LefFerts, 
WilUam  H.  EUet, 


David  Crawford, 


y 


John  Van  Reypen, 
Edward  S.  Johnson, 
Joseph  Surveyor, 
G.  H.  Van  Wagenen, 
James  C.  Finley, 
WilHam  Holland, 
James  A.  Clearman, 
Stephen  R.  Kirby, 
Arthur  V.  Conover, 
Samuel  L.  Griswold, 
Jacob  B.  James, 
Thomas  W.  Donsom, 
Ferris  Jacobs,    -^ 
WilHam  Thompson, 
Albert  Bullen, 
John  A.  Tilks, 
John  V^.  Hitchcock, 
Douortien  Binsse  Destr, 
Joseph  Lawrence, 
Samuel  M.  Harby^— 
Samuel  E.  Chapman, 
Edgar  G.  Mygatt, 
James  H.  Williams, 
Joseph  L  Wright, 
N.  Edson  Sheldon, 
William  C.  Roberts, 
Samuel  P.  Bishop, 
Edward  Ellis, 
Bethuel  V.  Peterson, 
Samuel  G.  Arnold, 
Weller  D.  Rood. 


Windsor, 

New-York, 

New-York, 

New-York, 

Monmouth, 

New-York, 

New-Ycrk, 

Bergen, 

Columbia, 

New-York, 

New-York, 

Jones, 

Jones, 

Essex, 

New-York, 

Middlesex, 

New-York, 

Burlington, 

New-York, 

Schoharie, 

Lewis, 

Clinton, 

Oneida, 

New-York, 

Edgecomb, 

Charleston, 

Craven, 

Oneida, 

Hertford, 

Halifax, 

Delaware, 

New- York, 

Tompkins, 

Crawford, 

Niagara, 

Dutchess, 

Chenango. 


Vermont. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New  Jersey. 
New- York. 
New-York. 
New  Jersey. 
New-York. 
New- York. 
New-York- 
New  Jersey. 
North  Carolina,^ 
New  Jersey. 
New-York. 
New  Jersey. 
New-York. 
New  Jersey. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
North  Carolina. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
North  Carolina. 
South  Carolina. 
North  Carolina. 
New-York. 
North  Carolina." 
North  Carolina. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
Pennsylvania. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 


y 


/ 


27 


James  B.  Kissam, 
'John  H.  Biddle, 
Charles  Toan, 
Charles  C.  Blauvelt, 
Thomas  H.  Hutchinson, 
David  W.  Wilson, 
John  RosencrEintz, 
Isaac  B.  Craft, 
John  H.  Griscom, 
Jonathan  D.  Annin, 
John  A.  Morrison, 
Henry  Winne, 
Aaron  S.  Nestor, 
Whitfield  Nichols, 
Edward  L.  Coburn, 
Robert  Tolefree,  Jun. 
EHas  P.  Phelps, 
Daniel  B.  Ostrander, 
George  C.  Ball, 


New-York, 

New-York, 

Cayuga, 

Somerset, 

New-York, 

Morris, 

Franklin, 

New- York, 

New- York, 

Somerset, 

Essex, 

Somerset, 

New- York, 

Essex, 

Columbia, 

New-York, 

Otsego, 

New-York, 

Kings, 


New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New  Jersey. 
New- York. 
New  Jersey. 
New  Jersey. 
New-York. 
New- York. 
New  Jersey. 
New-Jersey. 
New  Jersey. 
New-York. 
New  Jersey. 
New- York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 
New-York. 


New- York,  Jan.  10,  1829. 


(  No.  4.  ) 


TO  THE  HONOURABLE 

THE  REGENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW-YORK. 


Your  Memorialists  respectfully  represent,  that  as 
guardians  of  the  public  education  of  the  state,  they 
approach  your  Honourable  Body  with  that  respect 
which  is  due  to  a  tribunal  invested  with  such  high 
and  important  interests.  Believing  that  those  inte- 
rests will  be  promoted  by  the  application  they  now 
make,  they  hasten  to  lay  before  your  Honourable 
Body  the  considerations  which  have  influenced  them, 
and  which  they  submit,  with  all  due  deference,  to 
your  enhghtened  judgments. 

Devoted  for  many  years  to  the  duties  of  instruc- 
tion, they  are  desirous  that  the  talents  they  possess , 
may  be  exercised  for  the  benefit  of  the  community. 
The  success  of  their  labours  and  their  efforts  in 
raising  a  small  and  inconsiderable  medical  school 
into  rivalship  with  the  oldest  university  in  the  union, 
and  to  triumphant  superiority  over  every  other  until 
internal  dissensions  compelled  them  to  resign  their 
trust,  are  known  to  your  Honourable  Body.  It  is 
not  intended  to  excite  the  angry  feelings  in  which 


29 

they  originated,  and  which,  they  trust,  are  now  ex- 
tinguished for  ever.     Suffice  it  to  say,  that  believing 
they  could  not  do  justice  to  themselves  under  the 
control  exercised  over  them  by  the  Trustees,  they 
surrendered   their   trusts   into   the   hands   of   your 
Honourable  Body,  and    united    themselves  with   a 
most  respectable   literary   institution  in  our  sister 
state  of  New-Jersey.     At  that  time,  neither  your 
Honourable  Body  nor  the  Legislative  Councils  of 
the  state  were  in  session,  nor  were  they  to  be  con- 
vened until  after  the  time  when  the  lectures  in  the 
College  were  to  commence.     Finding  that  this  mea- 
sure did  not  meet  the  sanction  of  the  authorities  of 
the  state,  they  were    subsequently  constituted  the 
Medical  Faculty  of  Geneva  College.     But  satified 
that  under  an  independent  Charter  they  could  act 
with  more  convenience  and  utility,  they  now  present 
their  claims  before  your  Honourable  Body,  confident 
that  you  will  see  in  their  proposition  a  design  to  add 
to  the  literary  and  scientific  character  of  the  state, 
and  a  willingness  to  be  controlled  by  such  regulations 
as  may  be  in  harmony  with  its  general  system  of 
public  instruction. 

They  have  erected,  at  great  expense,  a  large  and 
commodious  edifice  in  a  central  and  commanding 
part  of  the  city,  and  adjacent  to  the  public  hospital. 
Students  from  every  part  of  the  union  repair  to  their 
institution ;  and  it  is  with  emotions  of  satisfaction 
they  have  ascertained,  that  for  the  three  last  terras, 
during  which  their  establishment  has  existed,  a  con- 
siderably greater  number  of  Medical  Students  have 
assembled  in  the  city  than  were  ever  before  collected 
together  in  that  place.     Indeed,  they  cannot  doubt 


30 

that  there  is  room  for  two  institutions,  and  that  a 
friendly  emulation  would  contribute  to  the  interest  of 
each.  This  is  the  case  with  our  sister  cities  of  Phi- 
ladelphia and  Baltimore,  where  two  Medical  schools 
in  each  city  flourish,  with  great  advantage  to  the 
profession,  and  with  adequate  remuneration  to  the 
teachers.  The  population  of  New-York  is  more 
than  twice  that  of  Baltimore,  and  is  much  superior 
to  that  of  Philadelphia.  In  London  and  Paris,  the 
great  schools  for  medicine  and  surgery  are  the  hos- 
pitals, and  in  each  city  its  teachers  of  medicine  are 
probably  more  than  a  hundred. 

They  trust  they  need  no  more  than  allude  to  the 
importance  and  utility  of  the  medical  art.  This  no- 
ble profession,  which,  to  its  successful  prosecution 
requires  the  incessant  exertion  of  the  highest  facul- 
ties of  the  mind,  has  been  too  long  suflfered  to  linger 
in  neglect ;  and  while  the  Legislative  Councils  of  the 
state  have  been  studiously  attentive  to  provide  the 
means  ofinstruction  to  every  class  of  citizens,  the  study 
of  medicine,  which  requires  numerous  facilities  and  ex- 
pensive apparatus,  has  been  left  comparatively  unpa- 
tronized  and  unprotected.  During  our  revolutionary 
struggle,it  was  said  by  one*  whose  means  of  j  udging  and 
whose  ability  to  decide  were  equally  acknowledged, 
that  more  lives  had  been  lost  by  the  ignorance  of  the 
medical  staff,  than  by  the  sword  of  the  enemy.  How- 
many  lives  have  been  since  lost,  we  have  no  means  of 
ascertaining  ;  but  all  must  admit,  that  one  of  the 
highest  and  most  benign  duties  of  legislation  consists 
in  protecting  the  lives  of  our  citizens.     Of  a  people 

■'  Dr.  Rush- 


31 

so  intelligent  and  so  liberal  in  every  public  enter- 
prise, we  trust  it  never  will  be  said,  that  they  were 
prodigal  of    their   blood   and   treasure  to    protect 
their  liberties  from  violation,  and  in  infancy  and  un- 
used to  arms,  measured  their  swords  with  giants  in 
strength  and  veterans  in  arms,  that  they  surpassed 
all  other  nations  in  the  magnitude  of  their  donations 
to  educate  their  children,  and  were  even  jealous  to 
a  fault   of  the  guardianship  of  those  to  whom  the 
wisdom   of  their  legislation  consigned  even   for  a 
transient  period,  a  portion  of  their  power;  but  by  a 
fatuity  and  folly  which  the  ^anest  of  nations  have 
avoided, and  which  almost  counteracted  their  wisdom 
in  the  cabinet  and  their  valour  in  the  field,  they  com- 
mitted their  health  and  lives  to  any  whose  ignorant 
presumption  ventured  on  the  task.     But  we  do  not 
think  so  meanly  of  our  countrymen.     Their  attention 
need  only  be  directed  to  this  object  to  procure  the 
proper  remedy.     And  we  trust  that  your  Honourable 
Body,  charged  by  the  law  of  the  land  with  this  high 
trust,  will  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  an  application  which 
we  venture  to  predict  will  furnish  a  corrective  to  the 
evil.     We  ask  not  a  cent  from  the  public  treasury  ; 
but  believing  that  the  emoluments  from  the  students 
and  the  benign  effects  of  our  instruction  will  prove 
an  adequate  reward,  we  solicitthat  we  may  be  permit- 
ted to  exercise  our  abilities  under  the  public  sanction 
and  authority.     Already  we  have  been  at  no  small 
expense   of  time   and   labour  and  finance  ;  we  ask 
that  it  may  not  be  in  vain,  and  that  the  student  who 
shall  prefer  the  system  and  course  of  instruction 
w^hich  we  offer,  may  not  have  the  doors  of  instruction 
debarred  from  his  access. 


32 

To  you  who  are  conversant  with  the  numerous  ad- 
vantages for  the  prosecution  of  Anatomy  in  the  hos- 
pitals of  Paris  and  London,  it  will  not  be  deemed 
extraordinary  that  on  the  vacancy  in  Rutgers  Medical 
College,  occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  Dr.  God- 
man,  the  eyes  of  the  other  professors  were  directed 
to  some  member  of  the  profession  whose  good  for- 
tune it  had  been  to  enjoy  them  in  his  education. 
Than  Dr.  Bushe,  no  surgeon  in  London  had  directed 
his  studies  with  a  more  distinct  view  to  anatomical 
improvement;  and  his  high  reputation  is  proof  both 
of  the  opportunities  h^'cnjoyed,  and  of  the  vigour 
and  success  of  his  application.  It  is  no  exaggerated 
praise  to  assert,  that  anatomy  is  now  first  taught  in 
this  country  as  it  ought  to  be — not  merely  descriptive, 
but  pathological  and  physiological.  The  recent  im- 
provements in  this  extensive  science,  amounting  al- 
most to  a  revolution  in  its  foundations,  are  now  first 
developed  to  the  studious  youth  of  this  metropolis. 
Hereafter,  we  trust,  that  Americans  enjoying  the  ad- 
vantages of  Europe,  will  become  no  less  eminent  in 
anatomy  than  in  other  branches  of  knowledge. 

In  1784,  your  Honourable  Body  originated ;  and 
by  an^act  of  the  Legislature  of  1789,  and  by  other 
subsequent  acts,  your  jurisdiction  was  greatly  ex- 
tended, and  your  supervising  power  is  now  felt  in 
every  part  of  the  state.  The  enlarged  and  liberal 
donations  of  the  Legislature  are  honourable  to  our 
people,  who  will  doubtless  reap  the  advantages  of 
this  munificence  in  the  education  of  their  children. 
But  in  the  present  instance,  your  Honourable  Body 
is  not  called  upon  to  make  any  claim  upon  the  funds 
of  the  state,  but  to  grant  to  a  body  of  men  the  license 


33 

of  your  approbation,  whom  your  Honourable  Body 
selected  from  among  the  most  eminent  of  the  pro- 
fession, and  whose  competency  has  the  sanction  of 
your  testimony  in  its  favour. 

Although  the  undersigned  have  raised  this  institu- 
tion by  their  own  individual  expense  and  efforts,  they 
would  willingly  submit  to  the  visitorial  power  of  your 
Honourable  Body,  in  common  with  the  other  literary 
corporations  of  the  state. 

DAVID  HOSACK,  M.D. 

Professor  of  the  Listitutes  and  Practice  of  Physic 
and  iDlinical  Medicine. 

WILLIAM  J.  MACNEVEN,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Therapeutics  and  Materia  Medica. 

VALENTINE  MOTT,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Surgery. 

JOHN  W.  FRANCIS,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Forensic  Medicine. 


I  fully  concur  in  the  foregoing  statement, 


JOHN  GRISCOM,  LL.D. 

Professor  of  Chemistry. 


New-York,  Jan.  1829. 


1\ 


